LEMON GRASS TO CATCH SWARMS?

lisnnbeerawhoney · March 23, 2012, 05:14:12 PM

:bee: anybody had any luck with using lemon grass to catch bee swarms? I tryied last year didnt have much luck.

Michael Bush · March 24, 2012, 01:22:47 AM

Move your bait hives. It's just like fishing. You have to find a good place...

SerenityApiaries · March 24, 2012, 03:35:43 AM

Where would one get lemon grass? I"m not sure if Oregon has lemon grass. I have a swarm attractant that I ordered but I have seen JP in his videos use lemon grass.

Khalen

Michael Bush · March 24, 2012, 05:12:11 AM

Lemongrass Essential Oil is available from most places that sell essential oils. That's what you want. The lures you buy will do as well but cost a lot more.

SerenityApiaries · March 24, 2012, 05:19:49 AM

Lemon grass it is then. :)

Michael Bush · March 24, 2012, 07:27:22 AM

You can get it from a lot of the bee suppliers and even on Amazon...

Intheswamp · March 24, 2012, 09:24:15 AM

Whether it matters or not, there are two varieties of LGO commonly found, Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon flexuosus. Apparently both varieties work as swarm lures, but I get the impression that Cymbopogon citratus is the one you really want. It is actually stated as coming from "lemon grass" whereas Cymbopogon flexuosus is stated as coming from the Cochin or Malabar grasses.

Ed

lisnnbeerawhoney · March 24, 2012, 11:05:39 PM

my wife works at local heath foods store thats where I bought mine at.

Kathyp · March 24, 2012, 11:22:04 PM

ebay stores.

Michael Bush · March 24, 2012, 11:38:53 PM

Whichever has more citral would work better...

tedlemay · March 25, 2012, 03:11:11 PM

Great info guys!!

SerenityApiaries · March 26, 2012, 04:36:28 AM

Definitely good info to have. Thanks.

bzzigi · March 29, 2012, 09:46:35 AM

Hi all,
had anybody any success using lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) instead of lemon grass?

Michael Bush · March 31, 2012, 11:58:26 PM

>had anybody any success using lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) instead of lemon grass?

I have heard it works, I have not tried it. It contains some citral. Lemongrass oil sems to be the more proven method.

Jonat · April 08, 2012, 07:44:53 PM

The nasonov pheromone contains a variety of scents, including citral compounds (lemony scent) and geraniols (rose scent). The standard synthetic pheromone is 2 parts citral to 1 part geraniol. Not sure if a rose geranium oil works, it is loaded with geraniols, but my nose is not as discriminating as that of a bee's.

saperica · April 28, 2012, 12:00:22 PM

i use a melisa officinalis branches and leaves to atract swarm, my college have some esential oil that he produce.
this year i got some swarm atractant wipes from vita europe so i will try..

Lavy Garcia · January 18, 2013, 02:56:19 AM

I had no experience of it.Let me know that what was your experience of it,,,,,,,

saperica · January 18, 2013, 04:35:40 AM

this is my expirience, i am a voulonter for "beekeeping watch of city zagreb", allways is Mellisa branches and Vita Swarm wipw whit me.

pr1zZ · February 07, 2013, 09:14:35 AM

best for swarms old frame with honeycombs, black WHISOUT HONEY! If will be honey it is will be very bad!

Sundog · February 07, 2013, 11:29:41 AM

How far off the ground is my question.

I have one trap about a foot off the ground (on a friends patio), and another in a tree 15 feet up in my backyard.

My friend lives in an area where I once worked and witnessed several feral hives over the years, so I thought it to be a good location.

Before I kept bees, I had a homemade cedar birdhouse in the tree where I now have the trap in my backyard. The birdhouse eventually fell to the ground and then bees moved into it.

So is one location better than another, or is it just a crapshoot?

Having fun!